sarals 

Over/under intervals this morning on the TT bike. Started well, went south by the third one. That usually happens when the front brake is dragging. And it was. HR strap quit working, too. <sigh> One of those mornings....

Racer Ex 

I'm having one of those years.

Did a quick calc, I start my "season" at the end of September. Out of 220 days since then, been off the bike 120 of them. Injuries, illness, surgery, family illness, move related stuff. Wouldn't be so bad if it was front loaded. On the other hand I've been pretty lucky over the last decade-ish, and I've notched a couple of wins this year.

Like Santiago, I may not be as strong as I think I am, but I know many tricks, and I have resolution. Tomorrow will be interesting. Very strong field with a lot of jersey winners, 4 teams well represented, and me flying solo.

“Take a good rest, small bird," he said. "Then go in and take your chance like any man or bird or fish.”

revchuck 

Good luck, Ex.

Heathpack 

One of the most instructive things I've gotten from reading these boards is how many things can crop up to derail a person's cycling. It's impressive, really. At least I'm prepared for it mentally now, it's part of the ebb & flow of cycling. And life too, I guess. So my take home message is to make the most of while it's going well.

Good luck tomorrow, ride well.

shovelhd

Ex is gonna crush it.

Cleave

At least @sarals is training consistently.

@Racer Ex has an uncanny ability to win despite less than ideal preparation. Knowledge, hard work, and good genes go a long way.

Saw that @shovelhd has recovered sufficiently to start riding with some intensity again. Good deal.

As for me, this is definitely the season of two steps forward, two steps back (i.e. treading water). After avoiding business travel this week, I have to go to Everett, WA, the week after next. My last full week before heading to Minneapolis at the beginning of July. Guess I'll have a dress rehearsal for packing my new bike bag (Sciconbags.com - Bike bags for winners since 1980 - Buy - Aerocomfort 2.0 - Scicon) -- assuming it shows up by then.

Yesterday was a rest day after 3 days of various intervals. Tuesday was at the track with Hermes and Velo Diva. I somehow avoided disaster there because apparently the rim strip on my Mavic front track wheel had partially failed. I punctured two latex tubes getting ready to leave for the track and on the second go-round of replacing the tube I put a butyl tube on the wheel. It lasted through the entire session but punctured during my drive home. I really dodged a bullet with that one. Bought new rim strips for both wheels yesterday.

Racing up Glendora Mountain Road tomorrow. When the pros raced up the same road during the Mt. Baldy stage of the ATOC, the guys in the break were in their big rings. I'm using the uphill TT as an FTP test and further learning on how to be more steady with my wattage. Glad Velo Diva won't be there as there will be one less woman that will be faster than me. I seriously don't care but I have a friend who scours race results and harasses me to no end -- especially after TTs.

shovelhd

I would have no shame in losing a TT to Velo Diva.

sarals 

I sure don't!

revchuck 

Prostate biopsy last Thursday. As my last ride prior to it, Wednesday I did 1:10 at endurance pace with a 45 minute SST interval in the middle. Had to do it by heart rate as it was the first ride on my new (to me) Zipp 303s, an older set in good shape for which I paid $300. They're pretty nice. No problem holding that pace for that length of time.

The biopsy was, well, unpleasant. Then the doc told me I had to stay off the bike for two weeks. Follow up appointment next Thursday, during which I plan to renegotiate that layoff. Hopefully the cancer hasn't gotten worse.

Racer Ex 

Positive thoughts in that direction Chuck!

shovelhd

Good thoughts, Chuck.

LAJ

Positive thoughts, Chuck.

Hermes

Good luck Chuck and hope the C is in remission.

Hermes

I seem to be snake bit. Besides some miscellaneous health problems that appear to be in the rear view mirror, Sunday, I ruptured my plantaris muscle at the track. The injury was nothing glorious on the bike but in my street shoes walking down the track returning from the restroom between efforts. The estimated recovery is 6 weeks.

The injury is sometimes called tennis knee. It typically happens during a quick stop or stepping off of a curb. Mine was walking down the track on the banking i.e. like stepping off of a curb. There was a pop and pain. It is not an old guy thing but can happen to anyone any age.

Sunday and Monday, I iced and rested the leg and went to the doc. He diagnosed the plantaris rupture and said the more I rest it, the faster it will heal. He gave me a PT prescription and said the ultrasound can help with the pain but probably will not increase recovery time.

It seems better today as I am writing this. I can walk normally but not very fast but I cannot generate any force with my left leg. It likes to be straight.

Heathpack 

WTF?



Totally

I mean it.

happybday29475

good luck, @revchuck.

happybday29475

Sux, Hermes...I can feel your frustration.

I do think that those of us racing / posting in the masters' forum are hugely more macho (women too!) than the "seniors"...we all are constantly fighting things that the "kids" can't envision. Even though you said this injury is not age related, it just seems like amongst my competitors, if it's not one thing, it's another. Off the top of my head, it seems that most every poster in this forum has had some issue or another...

Anyway you'll be back kicking arse and taking names in no time...

happybday29475

I have a question about peaking/racing fatigue.

In general, January - mid April were hard training months, with some base and a couple of build cycles. Every week during this time did include at least one day of Vo2 intervals. By April my CTL was ~80.

Since mid-April, the routine has been race on the weekend (sometimes both days, sometimes not), with maybe a hard day during the week, but in general with more emphasis on recovery and rest than during the pre-season. My CTL has pretty much stayed constant at 75-80 throughout the race season. I did have one easy week after I fell and hurt my shoulder.

It seems, both by subjective feel and by power meter data, that my peak power was approximately April 15 to May 15. Since then, my power seems to have fallen off a bit, maybe 3-5%.

So my 2 questions are:

- Is this consistent with others' experience?

- what do folks do, mid-season, for a second peak, and should I expect to get to the same level as before, or even surpass it? I'm looking for a general answer...like rest for a bit, or have another build cycle, or what?

PS - I have a coach that I deeply respect, but I'm still interested in other masters' experiences.

Hermes

For those interested...Here is an article my doc gave me about rehabbing plantaris injuries. BTW, I have full strength in my calve muscle and can do toe raises without a problem.

globecanvas

How old are you? Your schedule and numbers are similar to mine, and so is your experience in general. Based on RPE in races, my fitness peaked around the beginning of May and has been going slowly backwards ever since. I came into this season expecting to race through mid-June, basically right about now, and then take a real break and then reassess whether it's worth trying to regain some fitness by the end of the summer.

Last year I had a life-events-related enforced hiatus in July, did almost no training for a month, just riding for fun, and then did manage to regain some form for an event in October. I don't know what your fitness background is, but for myself, the last couple of years I have found it realistic not to expect to be on best form for more than about 3 months at a time.

I will be curious to hear how your coach recommends handling your situation.

LAJ

@Hermes, I'm sorry to hear that. Rest up and heal well.

happybday29475

50 years old.

My season plan was to race in April and May and be MTBing/playing by June, with serious training for the fall CX season to start in August. Things changed a bit and I'm still racing because a) some early season races were postponed by weather; b) I'm chasing BAR points which I hadn't anticipated; and c) I fell and hurt my shoulder so road riding is fine but MTBing for now not so much. So my plans have changed and so have my goals and therefore my guidance to my coach - lately I've been stringing him along, saying, "oh, and next weekend too!" lol.

I'm not frustrated or disappointed by the power fall off; things generally are going better than expected. I'm simply trying to learn/understand. Also, I suppose I'd like to cat up in a few weeks with a bang instead of a whimper.

shovelhd

Get well Hermes. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Rapwithtom, it's ok to change a few things up here and there but when you change the whole premise of your season in the middle of it, there are going to be consequences. Pick what is most important to you now. Realize that you can't have it all,my hen work with your coach to adjust your training to fit the new goals.

Cleave

@revchuck, be well.

@Hermes, what?!?! Don't overcompensate with the good leg. My wife did that (overcompensating) last year and ended up with a secondary injury.

@rapwithtom, my understanding and experience is that you can't hold peak form (power) for more than a few (2-4?) weeks.I assume that as we get older the time span decreases. This goes all the way back to some coaching from the early 1980s. Our fitness is a series of sine waves. A big sine wave at the macro level (year) and smaller connected sine waves running along the macro one for segments of the year. (Wish I had a sketch to include.) Basically, you manage smaller peaks and valleys along your yearly cycles of on season versus off season. Clear as mud?

revchuck 

All - Thanks for the kind thoughts! I spoke with my urologist a little bit ago, and he told me there's basically no change from last time, the cancer is still low grade, so I'm still far more likely to die of old age. I have an appointment with him tomorrow to discuss what we do going forward.